The inability to see a movie in a theater can be frustrating, but, at least, there are streaming services that can bring new films to see in the comfort of your own home. Though there has been a nice mix of genres, it’s nice to see that some the smaller and more emotionally resonate ones are getting some attention. And it looks like Netflix’s The Half of It will be one of those films.
The new trailer for The Half of It has been released, and it reveals a love story with a modern twist that will speak to anyone, especially those within the LGBTQ+ community. In it, the bookish and introverted Ellie Chu (Leah Lewis) doesn’t quite fit in the small and quiet Midwest town that she and her widowed father live in. But she manages to find a way to survive the experience by ghostwriting papers for her high school classmates to help pay the bills. But when jock Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) hires her to craft love notes to Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire), the gig reveals that Ellie also has a crush on her.
But rather turn this into the generic competition, the trailer then reveals a budding relationship that either of them could have ever expected.
Netflix’s romantic comedy game is strong. While it’s fun to watch their films layer on the cheese and play around with the typical clichés, it’s also nice to see them deliver something heartfelt and honest. The trailer also hints at something that speaks to the youth and their struggles with defining their identity while also discovering love. It also features an Asian in a lead role, which will show that anyone can share all of these social experiences.
The Half of It also stars Enrique Murciano, Wolfgang Novogratz, Catherine Curtin with Becky Ann Baker and Collin Chou.
Here’s the official synopsis for The Half of It:
“Bookish introvert Ellie Chu is perfectly content with her life: watching old movies with her widowed father and ghostwriting papers for her high school classmates to help pay the bills. But her side gig turns personal when lovelorn jock Paul Munsky (Daniel Diemer) hires her to craft love notes to Aster Flores (Alexxis Lemire) — a smart, popular girl out of both their leagues… and Ellie’s own secret crush. Just as the duo’s plan begins to work, a new wrinkle emerges: Ellie and Paul have fallen into a deep friendship neither could have anticipated, giving rise to a surprising love triangle. Written and directed by Alice Wu, THE HALF OF IT is a heartfelt comedy-of-errors about searching for perfect love—and finding yourself in the process.”
Written and directed by Alice Wu, The Half of It will premiere exclusively on Netflix on May 1, 2020.
